Regeibat in Western Sahara

Introduction / History

The Regeibat comprise several tribes of Bedouin nomads in the interior of the country. They are a subgroup of the Moors, an Arab-Berber people.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Slavery has been abolished but may still be practiced in some areas, especially in Mauritania and Western Sahara, home of the Regeibat people. Slavery has brought attention to the injustices and inequalities tolerated by traditional Moor society. The Regeibat have very little access to the gospel because their homeland is inhospitable. They are not open to the gospel message.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Regeibat people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will. In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

The Regeibat community needs to trade in their charms and amulets for the abundant life offered only by Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Regeibat tribe to have access to adequate clean water and other needs. Pray for their elders to have dreams and visions of the risen Christ. Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the various Bedouin tribes, including the Regeibat in Western Sahara. Pray for a movement to Christ among Bedouin families.

Text Source:   Joshua Project